Selective electrical circuit controlling device



-Aug. 30, 1932. c, L HANEL v 1,874,100

SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 30, 1932. c. L. HANEL 1,874,100

SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 9. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Aug. 30, 1932. C. L. HANEL 1,814, 90?

SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIII/IIIIIIIII/lUIIIIIIIII Uta/1a.! Ladyylfinel J WM y Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES LUDWIG HANEL, OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SIGNAL ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed December The present invention relates to electrical circuitcontrolling devices, and has for its object to provide a circuitcontrolling device that is particularly characterized by its abil-' ity to selectively control the energization of a number of electrical circuits so that each complete operating cycle of the device will cause the electrical circuits under its control to be energized in an irregular, or seleca; tive manner.

The device of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in controlling the separate operation of a number of current consuming devices such as signals or signs, the control of warning signals at a railroad crossing being an advantageous use of the improved device, inasmuch as it is possible by my device to cause a flash of light apparently to travel in an irregular or zigzag path,

so that it will readily attract attention. Ob-

viously the device of the present invention is also susceptible to other uses, all as will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the device looking at the opposite side from Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View, illustrating the functioning of the device in different positions, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuits controlled by the operation of the device.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the deice comprises a base 1 above which is supported a circular plate 2 carrying a series of 9, 1929. Serial No. 412,315.

to the axis of a shaft 8 extending throu h the center of the contact carrying plate 2. Rotative movement of the shaft 8 is imparted to a contact bar 9 which is adapted to cooperate with'the several sets of contact fingers 4, 5. 6 and 7 to bring about energization of the various contacts 4, 5, 6 and 7 with a selective or irregular movement in a manner which will hereinafter appear.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the shaft 8 is rotatably supported in a bearing 10 carried by the plate 2 and its lower end carries a pinion 11 in mesh with a gear 12 carried by a countershaft 13 rotatably supported by the base 1 in bracket 13a. As best shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 13 also carries a ratchet wheel 14 turnable with the gear 12 and a pawl 15 pivotally mounted at 16 is adapted to engage the teeth 17 of the ratchet wheel 14 and turn it in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow. An oscillatory movement is adapted to be imparted to the pawl 15 by means of a rocker arm 18 turnable freely on the shaft 13, and the arm 18 is connected by a link 19 to an extension 20 provided on an armature 21 forming part of an electro-motor means for driving the device.

The armature 21 is pivoted at 22 on one leg of a U-shaped magnetic core 23 mounted on the base 1, the other leg of the core 23 carrying a winding 24. Vhen the winding 24 is deenergized, the armature 21 is held away from the energizing leg of the core by means of a spring 25 adjustably secured at one end to a lug 26 carried by the base 1 and secured at its other end to a lug 27 projecting from the armature 21 beyond the pivot 22. The spring 25 pulling on the lug 27 tends to turn he armature 21 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 22 and thus causes the pawl 15 to tend to turn the ratchet wheel 14 and its associated gear 12 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. As shown, the spring 25 has ust turned the ratchet wheel 14 through the distance of one tooth 17, so that should about which the contact .bar .9 is adapted .to

turn is operatively connected to the pawl operated shaft 13 by means of the pinion lland gear 12 and the ratio ofthisgearing is such thatwhen the ratchet wheel 14 is turned through the distance of one tooth upon movementof the armature 21 :by the'spring25, the

shaft 8 will be turned through one half: of a: revolution, although obviously other gear ratios may beemployed. This-intermittent rotative movement of the shaft 8 is utilized to impart acombined rotative and rectilinear movement to the contact bar 9, whereby to cause its cooperationwith the fingers :4, 5, 6 and 7 in an irregular, 'orpselective, manner through mechanism which .will next be described. V

As best shown in Figs.: and 6, the shaft 8 carries at itsupper end a double crank member 28 extending equally on opposite sides of the shaft 8, the free ends of the crank member carrying links 29 pivotal-ly connected to the crank 28 by pins 30. The oppositeends of the links29 support between them a block 6, the cam 3% provides 31 connected to the links 29 by pins 32a and 32?), so that the links support the block 31 with provision for relative pivotal movement therebetween. The block 31 serves to sup- 7 port the contact'bar 9, a plate 33 of insulating material being interposed between the bar 9 and the block 31 so that the contactbar9 is electrically insulated from the-remainder of the apparatus; The pins -32a and 326 which serve to support the block 3l at the ends of the links-29 also cooperate witha cam 343cmr'ied the upper portions-of the bearing of the shaft 8 so that the cam 34' is fixed with respect to the shaft 8. As best shown in Fig. 7 a series of e ually spaced and similarly formed projections 35 and depressions 36, the arrangement of which is such that a line joining thetip' ofany projection 35 with the innermost pointtofa recess 36 diametrically opposite will pass through the axis of the shaft 8. Consequently, when rotative movement of the shaft 8' is imparted to the crank arms 28, the pins 32a and 32b carried'by the links 29 will ride on the surface-of the cam 34 which will result in a combined rotative and rectilinear movement being'imparted to block 31 and the contact bar '9'carried thereby.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6, when the pin 32a engages the tip of a cam projection 35 simultaneously with the engagement of the pin 32?) with the bottom of a recess 36, the con-tact bar 9 is shifted to the right of the axis ofthe shaft 8, as viewed in Fig. 5 to swing the right hand end of the bar 9t0 a point which lies on a circle including the several sets of contact fingers 4, 5, 6 and 7. In this particular position, however, there are no contact fingers in engagement with the end of the bar 9 and this position will hereafter be referred to as the neutral position to which the bar 9 returns at the end of each half revolution of the shaft 8. If desired suitable stops 9a may be employed at the neutral position, as indicated in Fig. 1, although the stops 9a do not carry any'current.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that turning of the crank 28 from the neutral'posi-tion shown will cause the pin 32a to travel into a depression 36 of the cam while at the same time the other pin 32?) will ride from a :depression 36 to the tip of the cam projection 35. As this occurs, obviously the block 31 carrying the contact bar 9 will be turned in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6 and at the same time will be shifted to the left 'asviewed in Fig.5 until it assumes the dotted line positionidesignated position I, in'which apai-rof spaced bridging contacts 37 carried at one end of the har9 will engage, two of the three v-contact fingers i with a sliding movement, the contact, however, being only momentary, due to the eontinued rotative movementof the crank .ar-ms28; Further movement of thesearms causes-the pins 32a and 32b to. impart a second combined rotative and rectilinear movement to the bar toflthe position designated position II, in Fig. 6 in which a pair of spaced-bridgingcor-n tacts 38 carried at the opposite end-of the bar 9 engage two of the three contact fingens-6 with a momentary sliding contact. Obvious-' ly,as the crank arms 2-8.complete a half revo lution to return the bar 9 to its neutral posi- 'tion, facing in the opposite direction, the contacts 37 will engage the contact fingers-5 in position III and then the contacts 38 will engage the contact fingers7 in position IV, the bar 9 finallycomin'g to rest-ina reversed position as compared to Fig.5. 7

Therefore, it is obvious that when the shaft 8 is turned through another half revolution following deenergization of'the winding 24, the bar will go through another cycle of movements into positions I to IV inclusive, only in making these movements the contacts 38 will engage the fingers 4 and5 whereas the contacts 37 will engage the fingers 6 and 7 as contrasted to the preceding cycle of op-j eration in. which the sequenceof movement of the contacts are in the reverse order. It is therefore apparent that each time the shaft above th other.

8 turns through a complet revolution there will take place a complete cycle of contact movements in which the fingers 4, 5, 6 and 7' will be selectively engaged by the contacts 37 and 38 carried by the bar 9. As an illustra-- tive embodiment of the utility of this irregular operation of the contacts, reference will. now be had to Fig. 7 which is a diagrammatic showing of the relation between the contact fingers 4, 5, 6 and 7 and contacts 37 and. 38 carried by the bar 9.

In Fig. 7 the several sets of contact fingers: 4, 5, 6 and 7 are shown displaced from each other in plan and arranged around the circumference of a circle Whereas actually the contact fingers are arranged vertically, one Furthermore, the contacts 37 and 38 carried by the bar 9are shown in.

plan to correspond with the diagrammaticshowing of the contact fingers with which they cooperate and it is obvious that in position I asindicated, the contacts 37 will engage the bottom and middle contact fingers 4 whereas in position II the contacts 38 will engage the top and middle contact fingers 6. For convenience of designation, the contact fingers are labeled T and B to indicate top and bottom so as to make clear the sequence of the engagement of these fingers by these contacts 37 and 38. Therefore, as the bar 9 turns through a half revolution the contact fingers 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be engaged in the sequence of 4, 6, 5 and 7 and furthermore the bottom and middle fingers 4 and 5 will be engaged, whereas the top and middle fingers- 6 and 7 will be engaged.

Still referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that all of the middle fingers 4, 5, 6 and 7 are connected to the side of a source of electrical energy indicated at 39, whereas the four pairs of top and bottom fingers 4, 5, 6 and 7 are connected to a corresponding number of current consuming devices indicated at 40. The other terminals of these devices 40 are con nected in parallel to the side of the source 39 so it is evident that whenever any top or bottom contact finger 4, 5, 6 and 7 is connected to its middle finger the corresponding current consuming devices will be energized momentarily. Therefore when the contact bar 9 makes a half revolution, the devices 40 will be energized in the sequence indicated by the numerals I, II, III and IV corresponding to the positions designated in Fig. 6. Also it will be evident that when the bar 9 completes the next half revolution, the remaining current consuming devices 40 will be energized in an entirely different order indicated by the numerals V, VI, VII and VIII. Obviously, this irregular energization of the current consuming devices 40 can be used in any desired manner for controlling signals, as for example, by causing the energization of discharge tubes to simulate a flash of lightning for use as a warning signal at a railroad crossing, in addition many other uses could be found for the device.

In the previous description, it has been assumed that the winding 24 controlling movement of the armature 21 has been intermittently energized and there will now be described means for automatically causing the intermittent energization of the winding 24 so that the shaft 8 will have an intermittent rotative movement imparted thereto. As also shown in F 7, one terminal of the Winding 24 is permanently connected to the side of the source 39, whereas the other terminal thereof is connected to a stationary contact 41. As indicated, the contact 41 is engaged by a resilient contact 42 which is connected to the side of the source 39 through a suitable switch 48. Consequently, with the contacts 41 and 42 in engagement and switch 48 closed, the winding 24 will be energized and the armature 20 attracted to cause the pawl 15 to be advanced the space of one tooth over the ratchet wheel 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the contact 42 is movable with the armature 21 and the turning movement of the armature 21 is utilized to disengage the movable contact 42 from the stationary contact 41 to automatically deenergize the winding 24.

A preferred way of accomplishing this automatic intermi tent energization of the winding 24 is by employing the peculiar form of resilient contact shown in my copendin application, Serial No. 291,441 filed July 9, 1928. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the resilient contact 42 provides a central tongue portion 43 separated from fingers 44 that are connected at their ends to the armature 21 adjacent its pivot 22 although insulated therefrom. The tongue 43 is oined to the fingers 44only at the opposite ends of the fingers near the stationary contact 41 and the free end of the tongue 43 is received in a notch 45 provided in an arm 46 turnable with the armature 21.

When the winding 24 is deenergized, as indica-ted in Fig. 4, the spring 25 holds the armature 21 in the position shown, in which position the arm 46 is turned to bring the apex of its notch 45 at one side of the fingers 44. In this position the tongue 43 exerts a thrust tending to hold the contact 42 in close engagement with the contact 41. However, when the winding 24 is energized in response to this engagement between the contacts 41 and 42, turning of the armature 21 about its pivot 22 swings the arm 46 outwardly to throw the apex of the notch 45 to the opposite side of the fingers 44. IVhen this occurs, the tongue 43 exerts a thrust tending to quickly separate the contact 42 from the stationary contact 41 and move the contact 42 into engagement with a stop 47. This has the effect of deenergizing the winding 24 so that the spring 25 is free to move the armature 21 away from the core 23 thereby causing the pawl 15 to turn the ratchber 'of'different" current consuming devices or et 'whe'ePMthrough the-space of onetooth with the" resultingturning of the shaft 8 through one half of a revolution. As previously pointed out, turning of the'armature 21 aiv'ay from the core 23brings the-parts to 'the'position shown in Fig; 4 wherein the arm 46 has snapped the contact42 back into engagement with the stationary contact 41, thereby again'energiz-ing the Winding 24; It

"will ther'efore be apparentthat'so longias one terminalof thewinding 24 is connected to the side of the source '39 through the knife switch 48,'the Winding 24 will be'inte'rmit- 1 5 tentlyen'ergi'zedand deenergized-through the another half-revolution, consuming devices 40 'W1ll*be energized-in the sequence designated From the tore-go ng, it is apparentthat by thepresent inventionthere is provided an extremely simple and efi'ective'eleotrical circuit'controlling device adaptedto have an irregular or selective actionas regardsi'a numcircuits. The device is entirely automatic in 1ts' operation and W111 continue to energize the controlled clrcmts first in one sequence an'd'then inanother so' long as one terminal of the operating Winding'is'energi'zedL I I claim,

teemta; movable" contact' arm and cam means for imparting-a predeterminedirregular movementto said arm to procure engage- V 'nient of said contacts in predetermined irregular order.

Y 2.:Ina deviceof the'class described, the

combination with a plurality of circularly arranged spaced contactsiand a contact arm having eontactfpoints'thereon and adapted to turn about the central axis ofsaidcontacts, otmeans for' mparting a oomblned rotatlve and" translat'ory movement to sald arm draw saidp'oints therefrom. V

3. Ina device of the class described, the combination with a'plurality' of'cir'cularly arranged spaced contacts'and a contact'a'rm having contact points on opposite ends thereof, said contact aim being adapted 'to' turn about the axis of said contacts, ofl-meansfor turning said arm throngh a predetermined angular movement and at thesanie time shifting said arm laterally w'vitlfrejs'pect'to its axis of rotation to prorare first theiengagement of the contact peintsononeend ofsaid with one If said spaced contacts, and then the engagement of=the contact points onthe opposite end-of the arm'with another of said ei1=eu1a-r- 'ly' arranged""spacedcontacts during therotal. In a d'evice of the class deseribed the combination With an uneven numberoi' circularly arranged spaced contacts, and a conequal-to' the 'diame'terflofthecircle of said spaced contacts, of means for imparting a combined rotary and reei'prooator'y movemen't'to-sai da'rrnto move said arm- Contact 1' points alternatelyinto the 'ci'roleof the spaced tact arm having contact points arranged i thereon and spaced apart-a CllStfilIC e uncontacts for engagement successively with said spaced contacts.

5;Ina device ofthe class described, the

combination "Witha plurality of circularly ari'angedspaced contactsand a "contact arm 1'1 avin'g contact points adjacent opposite ends spaced aparta"d;istance unequal to the diameter of the circle ofth'econtacts," said arm beingada-pted'to turnabout the central-axis of said c'entac'ts,of means or impartin' a "combined ='rotative and reciproeatory-move- 'n'Ientto said arm to procure engagement'of the Contact 'oint's adj acent the opposite end with another'ofsaid spaced contacts'atthe other end of there'cipro'cato'ry' movement.

CHARLES LUDWIG HANEL;

1.- In a device of theclass described, the V H conribin'ation W lllh il plurality of spaced con- ;40"

alternately to move said contact vpoints into 'the circle of the spaced contacts and to Withits 

